Window construction for refrigerators



Jan. 1, 1935. v wfH. ZIEPKE 1,985,909

I WINDOW CONSTRUCTION FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed. June 17, 1952 INVENTORWilliam H. ZiepKe.

' B 72/ M X ATTORNEY Patented Jan. I, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICEWINDOW CONSTRUCTION FOR REFRIGERATORS William H. Ziepke, Hollis, N. Y.,assignor to J. G.

Braun Company, Inc.,

Application June 17,

2 The present invention relates to window construction forrefrigerators.

Where refrigerators, show cases, and the like are to be provided withwindows to permit ob- 5 servation of the contents, it is generallypreferable to employ a plurality of glass panels, spaced from oneanother to form dead air spaces and thereby retard the conduction ofheat from the outside to the inside of the box.

The present invention contemplates a window construction, particularlydesigned for a multiple ply glass panel window arrangement and whereinmeans is provided for effectively sealing in the glass in such a way asto prevent moisture from entering between the panels of glass. Thepresent invention also contemplates awindow construction according towhich each glass panel is provided with a continuous or substantiallycontinuous soft rubber gasket about its edge. The panels are arrangedside by side with the gaskets or rubber channels acting as spacers tohold the glass panels apart and as gaskets against the supportingstructure.

The invention also contemplates an arrangement whereby two metal stripsof cooperative shape are provided so' that the glass panels and gasketsmay be placed in the window opening and then held against undesiredmovement while being clamped tightly.

A further object of the invention is to provide'a window constructionemploying two metal strips, one relatively fixed to the refrigerator orshow case and the other relatively movable relative thereto, the twostrips being so designed that they may be clamped against interposedglass and gaskets and are yet held out of actual metallic contact so asto reduce the flow of heat through the metallic parts.

The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the presentinvention, one of the many embodiments in which the inventionmay takeform,-it being understood that the drawing is illustrative of theinvention rather than limiting the same. In the drawing: I

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a show case window;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a show case window; and I Fig. 3 isa section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l. The refrigerator show case may bemade in any conventional or convenient manner and is generally providedwith a rectangular window opening having a sill forming member 10, a topmember 11, and side members 12 and 13. These are generally made of wood.

a corporation of Illinois 1932, Serial No. 617,748

(Cl. zc-sas) A thin rubber sealing strip 20 is preferably secured bysuitable adhesive to the frame members. A stationary or fixed metalstrip 21 is secured to the frame by screws indicated at 22 and 23. Thestationary or fixed strips 21 are made by cutting strips of metal to theproper length and providing them with mitered joints as indicated. Thestrip is preferably made by extruding aluminum or similar metal to thedesired shape. According to the shape shown in the drawing, 10 the strip21 has a base 24, an upwardly extending flange 25, and shelf portion 26which extends away from the intermediate portion of the flange 25. Thisshelf 26 is parallel with the base portion 24 and narrower, asindicated, so as to'facili- 15 tate inserting the screw 22. The upperportion of the flange 25 is indicated at 2'7.

The shelf 26 and the upper portion 27 of the flange are adapted toreceive window panes or glass panels 30, 31, 32. Each of these panels isa 20 accurately cut to a size slightly smaller than the rectangle formedby the shelf portions 26 of the various strips, and each of the panelsis provided with soft, rubber, channel-shaped, gasket-forming members33. These are preferably out with 5 mitered joints and are secured tothe glass by some suitable form of cement.

The movable clamping strip is indicated at 35.

It has a base portion 36, an upper clamping edge 37, and a reinforcingand stiffening web 30 38. Holes- 39 are tapped into the web 38 andspaced the same as holes 40, provided in the flange 25 of the fixedmember 21. Clamping screws 41 are threaded into these holes 39 and areemployed for obtaining clamping pressure, as 35 will be obvious. Theupper flange 37, of the movable member engages theouter'face of the lefthand gasket member 33, as indicated in the drawing, and hence when thescrews 41 are tightened, pressure 'is applied to all'the gaskets 40 anda very effective and tight joint is obtained.- The base 36 of themovable member is pressed downwardly against the upper surface of theframe or against the rubber sheet 20 where such a sheet is employed. 245 The parts are preferably designed so that the movable member isprovided with a groove 42 opposite the shelf 26 and with a cut outportion 43 opposite the base 24. In this way there is no metalliccontact between the two strips and 5" hence a conduction of heat isreducedto that which passes through the screws.

It will be noted that the shelf 26 engages the exposed web portions, ofeach of the channel shaped rubber gaskets and holds them securelyagainst the glass so that there is no possibility of squeezing them offthe glass or away from the glass during clamping operation. It will alsobe noted that the squeezing of the rubber gaskets would tend to stretchthem somewhat and hence tightly close the joints at the corners.

The window construction described herein is one which is exceedinglytight and unlikely to become fogged by reason of water vapor enteringbetween the glass plates. In case of breaking of the glass, or thenecessity of doing any other servicing to this portion of therefrigerator, it is obvious that one could easily remove the screws,take off the clamping strips, and clean, repair, or replace the glasspanels and rubber channels. At all times there is an effective clampingaction available and no reliance is made upon holding parts together bynails, screws embedded in wood, or other devices likely to loosen orotherwise deteriorate.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms andconstructions, and I wish it to be understood that the particular formshown is but one of the many forms. Various modifications and changesbeing possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respectthereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refrigerator, or the like, a frame defining a window opening, awindow therein comprising a plurality of panes of glass of the samesize, channel shaped rubber gasket members secured about the edges ofthe glass panes, plates .fixedly secured to the members ofthe frame,

movable clamping plates, the plates having opposed parts to receive theglass panes with the gaskets about them, and clamping bolts for drawingthe plates toward one another to squeeze the gaskets, the plates of oneset having shelves forming flanges which engage the exposed faces of thewebs of the channel shaped gaskets to hold the gaskets onto the glass,the other plates having recesses into which the flanges may enterwithout contacting, whereby thermal conduction is reduced, the freeedges of the movable plates bearing on the frame members.

, 2. A device for securing multiple ply glass panels in place comprisinga fiat support, two strips of metal of uniform cross section andindefinite length, one strip having a base fixedly secured to thesupport, a flange at right angles to the base near one edge, and a shelfconnected with an intermediate part of the flange parallel to base andspaced from the base for receiving the panels, the other strip having aclamping face opposite the free end of the flange, and a bearing face inthe same plane as the outer face of the base and movable over the faceof the support, and screws passing through holes in the first strip andthreaded into the other strip, the second strip having set backsopposite the shelf and base so that. the two strips are not brought intocontact when clamping a predetermined thickness of glass together,whereby thermal conduction is reduced and the entire clamping pressureproduced by the screws is transferred to the panel.

H. ZIEPKE.

